2 Corinthians 5-7

2 Corinthians 5

 Our Heavenly Dwelling

• Paul compares earthly bodies to temporary tents
• Believers long for a heavenly dwelling/resurrection body
• The Holy Spirit is a guarantee of what is to come
• Christians walk “by faith, not by sight”
• Our goal please the Lord
• Everyone will appear before Christ’s judgment seat 

Christ’s Love Controls Us

• We try to persuade people to follow Christ. God knows our hearts are sincere, even if some people judge only by appearances.
• Christ’s love drives and motivates everything we do.
• Jesus died for everyone so that believers would stop living only for themselves and instead live for Him.

 Ministry of Reconciliation

• Believers now view people differently because of Christ
  • “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” 
• God reconciled believers through Jesus Christ
• Christians are ambassadors of reconciliation
  • Christ became sin for us
  • believers receive God’s righteousness in Him

2 Corinthians 6

Endurance in Ministry

• Paul urges them not to receive God’s grace in vain
  • “Now is the day of salvation”
  • Isaiah 49:8
• Paul describes hardships in ministry:
  • great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger
• Yet also describes godly qualities:
  • purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love;by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness

Outward Appearance	Spiritual Reality
treated as impostors	yet are true
unknown	yet well known
dying	yet we live
punished	yet not killed
sorrowful	yet always rejoicing
poor	yet making many rich
having nothing	yet possessing everything

Paul speaks affectionately and openly to the Corinthians

• The problem is not Paul’s lack of love, but their own hearts have hardened
• He asks for mutual affection

Unequally Yoked

• Believers should not be “unequally yoked” with unbelief
• Paul contrasts:
  • light/darkness
  • Christ/Belial
  • believer/unbeliever
  • Temple/idols
• Believers are:
  • God’s temple
  • His people

He quotes Leviticus and Isaiah , and 2 Samuel ?

2 Corinthians 7

Because believers belong to God we are to:

• cleanse from defilement
• pursue holiness in reverence for God

Paul asks the Corinthians to make room in their hearts for him

• He has not wronged or exploited them
• Despite previous issues, he has confidence and joy 

 Titus

• Paul describes distress and anxiety in Macedonia
• God comforted him through the arrival of Titus
• Titus brought encouraging news about the Corinthians’ repentance and longing

 Godly Grief vs Worldly Grief

• Paul’s severe letter caused grief
  • But their sorrow led to repentance
• Difference:
  • godly grief leads to repentance and life
  • worldly grief leads to death
• Their repentance produced:
  • earnestness
  • zeal
  • longing to make things right

Titus was encouraged by the Corinthians’ response

Paul rejoices because of his confidence in them

Application

We learn that in Christ we are new creations ! Because of this we are called to pursue holiness and be reconciled with God.